Entry
どろどろ
dorodoro
どろどろ describes a thick, viscous, muddy state, or a messy, toxic state of human relationships.
Meaning
Quick Meaning
This word is used to describe highly viscous liquids, solids that have melted into a mushy state, or things heavily covered in mud and oil. Figuratively, it is very commonly used to describe negative emotions or toxic, complicated human relationships filled with conflict, jealousy, or betrayal.
- Covered in mud, dirt, or oil.
- A thick, highly viscous liquid or mushy melted solid.
- A toxic, messy, or sordid state of human affairs.
Sense Map
Muddy & Dirty
Describes a physically dirty state, covered in thick mud, grease, or oil.
靴がどろどろになる。
Viscous & Melted
Describes a highly viscous liquid or something that has melted into a thick, mushy paste.
ドロドロに溶けたアイス。
Toxic Relationships
Figuratively describes complicated, murky, or ugly human relationships, often involving deep resentment, affairs, or conflicts.
どろどろの愛憎劇。
Usage Note
How to Use
どろどろだ
Used to state that something is currently muddy, thick, or socially messy.
どろどろになる
Indicates a change of state into becoming muddy, melted, or toxic.
どろどろの + noun
Functions as a modifier for a noun, such as 'thick soup' or 'toxic relationship'.
どろどろに + verb
Used as an adverb to describe how an action is done, like melting into a puddle.
How to Use
Common Phrases
どろどろになる
to become muddy / to become a thick mess
どろどろに溶ける
to melt into a gooey mess
どろどろの関係
a toxic, messy relationship
どろどろのスープ
thick soup
Nuance
Context Nuance
| Common Contexts | Nuance | Usage Note |
|---|---|---|
| Physical state (mud/grease) | Negative | Indicates something is heavily soiled and unpleasant. |
| Food/liquid texture | Neutral / Negative | Can refer to a hearty thick soup, but often implies something melted unpleasantly and lost its shape. |
| Human relationships | Highly Negative | Describes toxic environments, cheating, inheritance disputes, or ugly grudges. |
Similar Words
Comparison Table
| Similar Words | When to Use | Not the Same as | Mini Example |
|---|---|---|---|
とろとろ とろとろ / opposite | Used for liquids or melted things that have a smooth, appetizing consistency. | とろとろ implies a positive, delicious melt (like cheese), while どろどろ sounds messy, unappetizing, or overly melted. | チーズがとろとろに溶ける。 |
ぐちゃぐちゃ ぐちゃぐちゃ / similar | Used for things that are smashed up, wet, or completely disorganized. | ぐちゃぐちゃ focuses on the destruction of shape and disorder, while どろどろ focuses on a viscous, melted, or muddy texture. | トマトがぐちゃぐちゃに潰れる。 |
Usage Note
Common Mistakes
Using どろどろ to praise deliciously melted cheese.
Use とろとろ instead. Using どろどろ makes it sound like the cheese melted into an unappetizing puddle.
Using どろどろ to describe a thick book or thick wall.
どろどろ only means thick in consistency (like a liquid). For physical thickness of objects, use 分厚い (buatsui).
Examples
Examples
雨で道がどろどろになった。
あめでみちがどろどろになった。
The road became completely muddy because of the rain.
VisualUsed to describe wet, messy mud.
鍋の中でカレーがどろどろに煮込まれている。
なべのなかでかれーがどろどろににこまれている。
The curry is stewed until thick and mushy in the pot.
VisualIndicates a highly viscous, thick liquid state.
暑さでアイスクリームがドロドロに溶けてしまった。
あつさであいすくりーむがどろどろにとけてしまった。
The ice cream melted into a mushy mess because of the heat.
VisualOften written in katakana to emphasize the loss of shape.
遺産を巡って親族間でどろどろの争いが起きた。
いさんをめぐってしんぞくかんでどろどろのあらそいがおきた。
An ugly, toxic dispute broke out among relatives over the inheritance.
FigurativeDescribes human greed and broken, messy relationships.
彼の靴は油と泥でどろどろだ。
かれのくつはあぶらとどろでどろどろだ。
His shoes are completely covered in oil and mud.
LiteralDescribes a surface coated in thick filth.
Similar Words
とろとろ
torotoro
とろとろ describes a thick, syrupy, or melted texture, as well as a gentle simmer, a weak flame, dozing off, or moving sluggishly. The opposite for food texture (torotoro is delicious/appetizing, dorodoro is mushy/messy).
ぐちゃぐちゃ
guchagucha
Describes a state where something has lost its original shape or order due to being crushed, wet, or disorganized. Both describe a messy or destroyed state, but guchagucha doesn't require a viscous texture.
どろり
dorori
Describes a liquid or semi-liquid that is thick, viscous, muddy, or gooey.
ギトギト
gitogito
Describes something that is unpleasantly covered in heavy oil or grease.
Questions
Can どろどろ be used for delicious food?
It can be used for intentionally thick soups, but generally has a negative connotation if a food lost its shape. For delicious melted food, とろとろ is much better.
What does a 'dorodoro relationship' mean?
It refers to a very messy, complicated, and toxic relationship, often involving infidelity, jealousy, or ugly disputes.
Should I write it in hiragana or katakana?
Both are common. Katakana (ドロドロ) is often used for emphasis, especially when highlighting the ugly or messy nature of the subject.
Source Details
- Entry ID
- 1009310
- Source
- JMdict_english
- Revision
- -
- Review notes
- No special notes
- Active language
- English
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